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Jaguars Notebook: RB Beanie Wells works out for team

Bob.Mack@jacksonville.com Running back De'Leon Eskridge tries to make a catch during an organized team activity.

Although a signing was not imminent, the Jaguars continued to explore potential roster additions Thursday by working out free agent running back Beanie Wells.

A first-round draft pick in 2009 by the Arizona Cardinals, Wells was released in early March with one year left on his rookie contract.

Visiting with Wells should be viewed more as the Jaguars doing their homework instead of concern over the availability of Maurice Jones-Drew (still rehabilitating from foot surgery) and the lack of experience at the position. The Jaguars have six tailbacks under contract.

Wells has his own red flags. Still only 24 years old, he has career totals of 51 games (23 starts), 625 carries, 2,471 yards and 24 touchdowns. But he averaged only 2.7 yards per carry last year and was deemed expendable by new Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, who preferred Ryan Williams.

Wells missed eight games last year with turf toe and knee injuries.

Arizona released Wells on March 12 and soon after, he visited with Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. He took a physical for the Steelers, but a source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Wells had a “bad wheel.”

Wells’ best pro season was two years ago, when he rushed for 1,047 yards.

Battling the elements

The Jaguars held their second-to-last organized team activity practice Thursday morning in a steady rain. But that didn’t interrupt the workout, which lasted one hour, 45 minutes.

“It’s great practice and anytime you can get out in the weather, it’s good because we do play in this,” quarterback Blaine Gabbert said. “It’s part of our climate here and you’ve got to get used to it.”

The on-field time is valuable for a team installing new schemes and incorporating so many new players. Gabbert has stressed how he must learn the offense faster than anybody so he could also lead the huddle. Has that been accomplished?

“I think so — that’s the quarterback’s job and that falls back on me being able to get the team in the right play every time,” he said. “And when people have questions, you’ve got to be able to tell them, ‘You’re lining up here and you’ve got this route and you’ve got this protection and you’re sliding to this guy.’ ”

One of the best

Outside linebacker Daryl Smith became an ex-Jaguars player Wednesday when he signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens. The Jaguars had decided early in the offseason that their youth movement didn’t include the 32-year old Smith.

Asked how much he liked playing alongside Smith, middle linebacker Paul Posluszny said: “I didn’t like it, I loved it. … He was the best linebacker I’ve ever played with even though we had just that one year together [2011] when we were on the field game after game.

“As soon as he told me he had signed, I texted him and told him it was an honor and a privilege to play with him. He’s a true professional. I can’t say enough good things about Daryl — I could stand here all day and say good things about him.”

Playing catch-up

Running back De’Leon Eskridge made his OTA debut this week, his first appearance on the field since he turned a tryout at last month’s rookie camp into a signed contract.

Eskridge wasn’t eligible to participate in the first two sets of OTAs because San Jose State’s class schedule ran into late May. But he completed his degree in communications.

“I was focused on my finals but [the Jaguars] sent me a playbook so I was able to study hard and not feel too much out of the loop,” Eskridge said.

This week’s transition?

“It was mostly getting used to the weather because it’s a lot more humid here than back home,” he said. “And just maturing as a player. I’m still in the process of learning how to practice as a pro and pay attention to every detail.”